tips

Conservation of energy even in small ways can end up in big savings and fewer greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping save our mother Earth.

Turning off the lights when not in use and other habits can definitely be a part of the solution. But there are several measures available today that can help increase the energy performance of your home.

Here are a few carbon reducing and energy saving steps anyone can take.

The Domestic Sector accounts for around 30% of total energy consumption. There is a huge potential to conserve energy by implementing simple measures. Saving energy doesn’t always need intricate planning and complicated implementation.

There are lots and lots of things we all can do right now to start with energy saving and help in reducing electricity bills. Remember…Energy saved is energy Generated.

Following are some easy practical solutions for saving energy:

Hot Water Heater Tips

We all know that hot water uses a lot of energy so when your shower starts to get cold, turns the cold water down instead of turning the hot water up.

Get a programmable thermostat which is compatible with your heating and cooling system. Turn it low in the winter and high in the summer.

Insulate all your water pipes with foam pipe insulation beginning from hot water heater to all hot water valves, particularly your shower, clothes washer and dishwasher. This will also decrease the time for the water to get hot.

Showers utilize less water than tub baths, especially low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators consume less water. They reduce the quantity of water that comes out of shower or faucet per minute, hence saving water and energy.

If you are using gas hot water tank in your home, you must drain the tank every quarter of the year to dispose of the calcium sediment of your hot water tank. Good energy would be saved since the gas tank has less sediment to heat.

Go in for tank less water heaters, it saves lot of energy as it only works when you turn on the hot water tap. Hot water is not wasted unnecessarily during the night and day when you don’t require hot water. Appliance Tips

Use your dishwasher and washing machine with the full loads only. Don’t wash things that aren’t dirty, people generally have tendency to throw them in the basket because it’s easier than putting them properly.

Always buy energy efficient appliances… Look for the products with the ENERGY STAR label. This label helps us identify energy-efficient appliances and products. Though the cost of these products could be more but they are better and more efficient in the long run.

If your fridge is more than 10 years old just get rid of it. It will help you reduce your energy bill big time.

Make use of the toaster to toast, not the toaster oven. Toaster ovens consume double the energy and take more time than a toaster.

Use a push lawn mower in place of a gas powered lawn mower…good for your health too.

Whenever you open the oven door you lose at least 20% of the heat. Prefer to use the window to check on your foods and keep the door closed.

Try to keep the condenser coils of the freezer or the fridge clean. If they are dirty then they will lose efficiency by about 25%.

Never place food directly into the oven from fridge. Keep food outside for some time until it reaches room temperature.

Dry your clothes in sun.

Prefer to use electric kettle in place of a stove top kettle as it uses much more energy to boil water.

Take care not to leave the door of your refrigerator open.

Prefer to air dry your dish-ware in place of using the heated drying cycle.

It is clear by now that renewable sources of energy are important alternatives to fossil fuels.

Their use reduces our greenhouse gas emissions, expands our energy supply and reduces our dependence on unreliable and volatile fossil fuel markets and above all gives us the satisfaction of doing something good for our nature.

The growth of renewable energy sources also encourages employment, the creation of new technologies and improves the trade balance.